A federal judge further extended until Friday a block on U.S. Department of Defense funding cuts that were slated to cost the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and other research universities millions.
The ruling, issued Tuesday, is the second time that a temporary restraining order was extended on an announced Department of Defense limit on facilities and administrative reimbursements to a 15% cap for all research grants.
MIT joined a group of 11 other universities, including Brown University in Rhode Island, and three higher education organizations that filed a complaint against the DOD.
U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy initially issued the temporary restraining order on June 17, and extended it on July 1 until July 15.
Tuesday’s order further extends the temporary restraining order through Friday.
“DOD’s latest action would have an immediate and dire effect on our national security by disrupting research designed to help our military,” the group of those suing said in a statement released in June.
Judge Murphy set several deadlines in his order on Tuesday
July 18 — The Department of Defense must produce an administrative recordJuly 28 — The universities must file a motion for summary judgmentAug. 7 — The Department of Defense must issue its cross-motion for summary judgmentAug. 14 — The universities must issue their responseAug. 21 — The Department of Defense must issue their responseSept. 4 — An in-person hearing on the motions will be held
MIT received $107 million in funding from the Department of Defense in the 2024 fiscal year, according to court filings.
The institution estimates that a 15% cap on facilities and administrative expenses by the DOD would result in an estimated loss of $21 million annually.
MIT has expressed it intends to apply for new funding awards from the DOD in addition to pending funding proposals.
MIT is also involved in lawsuits against other federal agencies over cuts to indirect costs in other departments, namely the National Institute of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Science Foundation.
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